Motor vehicle construction



MOTOR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION iFiled Sept. so, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Erwin C. notion.

BY CAQMQ VL,

' ATTORNEY March 22, 1938, E; c, HORTON 2,112,198

' MOTOR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 30, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Wlirwm C .Hofion,

i e-p a-w 4 y "ii-1291a umr ofsTATEs Parana" time? MOTOR VEH IGLERC ONSTRUCEKQN Erwin C. Horton, Hamburg; N. Y; assignor Trico iroducts Corporation, Buflaio, N. Y.

"Application September 30,1933, Serial No. 691,709 1o Claims. '(ci. ra -255) This invention relates to a motor vehicle body frame member and slidably supporting the reels v construction. It has previously been the practice member. The rack member may be composed of to 'mount the windshield cleaner motor in an articulated sections for greater emciency, the exposed position either at the forward side or sections being pivoted as at iii. I a the rearward side of the windshield, whichv ex- The rack member may be driven from'a'mov- 5 posure not only left the motor unprotected but ing part ,of the motor vehicle such as the engine also detracted from the appearance and finish shaft, this power being transmitted through a of the motor vehicle. The primary object of this rotating flexible shaft l i housed within one of invention comprehends the incorporation of the the upright posts 3 and carrying on its upper windshield cleaner mechanism within the body end a worm is which'is in .mesh with aworm structure framing the windshield so as to congear iii. The flexible shaft may have its upper stitute a built-in part of the body fabrication end journalled in bearing it so disposed as to rather than a mere attachment at the exterior .axially aline the shaft and worm with the latter side thereof, the built-in mechanism being rentangent to the gear. it. This will avoid unnecdered accessible upon .the removal of the enclos- 1essary bending of the flexible'shaft M in the mg, wall structure or a portion thereof within windshield frame, and'permit the worm gear it.

the vehicle. to be disposed inthe corner of the windshield I The invention further has for its object to proframing structure. vide a body structure incorporating a windshield This arrangement furthermore disposes the cleaner mechanism in which the wiper driving entire upper portion of the cleaner mechanism mechanism is embodied and disposed for the acwithin easy access for installation of parts and complishment of its purpose in a most practical their repair, such access being had 'upon the reand efficient manner. moval 'of thepanel 6 which latter is substantially In the drawings: o coextensive with themotion translating and con- Fig. l is a view of the windshield fromwithin verting mechanismend the removal of which a motor vehicle; opens such mechanism to clear view for inspec- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross section tion without necessitating the entire dismantling through the, upper portion thereof; e of the adjacent body structure. V Fig. 3 is a broken view illustrating in part the The motion translating mechanism, compris- 1 cleaner installation; and ing the worm l5 and the gear I6, is thus disposed J Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of'the header to one side and is given substantial support by structure with the removable panel separated. the adjacent columnar side framing. A wrist Referring more particularly to the drawings, pin I! on gear It operates in the slot l8 of cross the windshield glass of'a motor vehicle is framed head l9 to convert its rotary motion into re- 3 by the vehicle body portion that includes the ciprocatory motion for sliding the rack l0 back 4 upper section or header structure 2, the side and forth and, through the rack and pinion conposts or standards 3, and the lower section which nections, oscillate the wipersJ'. may include the instrument board I. The fram- The removable panel 6 may be readily placed ing body portion, preferably either in the upper and displaced so that entrance to the cleaner -40 section or the lower section thereof and herein mechanism is readily gained. Tovthis end. the 40 depicted in the upper or header, structure, is panel may be interlocked in position rather than provided with an inner chamber 4 which accord-- by attaching screws. Thus, the panel may have ing to the present disclosure has a back wall I an overhanging flange 20 along its upper .edge defined by a transverse body memberi and afor being hooked or engaged in the depending l5 removable front closure wall in the form of a groove 2| in chamber 4, and thereafter'the bead finishing panel'ii: The transverse body member 22 on the panel-s lower edge may be pressed or. provides substantial support for; the windshield snapped into engagement with one or more marcleaner mechanismwhich maycomprise one or ginal spring seats 23. By simply disengaging more wiper actuating-shafts 1 journalled in the the bead from its seat the panel may be removed so bearings-.8 of [the header structure, and each A to open the chamber contained mechanism of the driv'ing mesh with the rack member In. The and replacementof parts. meshing relation'is maintained by an opposing By housing the-cleaner mechanism within the idler" or a'Igui'de-rollerii and also through a windshield framing structure of the body, the

guide b'earingxl2 fixed to the inner face of the sound of operation, incidental to the motion shaft carrying a pinion 9 on itstin'ner end for windshield cleaner, and thus enable quick repair translation and conversion wherein the rotary drive motion is changed first into reciprocatory and then into oscillatory motion, is muffled and baiiled. The header transmission, including the gear IS, the rack l and the pinion 9, may be removed simply by opening the guide bearing l2,

removing the guide roller II, and withdrawing the worm gear from meshing relation with the worm l5, so that the entire mechanism may be removed from the chamber.-

There is thus provided a mechanical drive for a windshield cleaner mechanism in which the motion translating and converting means are readily detachable from the drive shaft and its worm, the structure being embodied within the vehicle body fabrication so as to permit ready repair and replacement without dismantlingthe entire body structure.

The rotary flexible shaft [4 may be readily installed and replaced by simply withdrawing the same from the channel or chamber extending through the adjacent post or standard 3', the chamber of this post preferably communicating with the header chamber as is suggested in Fig. 3. The header chamber therefore contains practically all of the motion translating and converting mechanism for transmitting the rotary drive over to the windshield wiper to oscillate the same. The installation and mounting of the several mechanical parts enables the same to be readily reached and also provides a concealment and housing which renders the mechanism practically silent in its operation.

What is claimed is:

1. A motor vehicle body construction having a windshield and a framing body structure, such framing body structure having a chamber with a forward wall and a removable interior panel by the removal of which latter access is gained to the chamber, means releasably securing the panel in chamber closing position, a windshield wiper, a shaft operatively connected to the wiper and journalled in the forward wall of the structure, and mechanism disposed in the chamber free of the removable wall and operatively connected to.

the wiper actuating shaft for operating the latter, said mechanism being accessible upon the opening of the chamber by the removal of said panel.

2. A motor vehicle body construction having a windshield and a framing body structure including a header and a supporting side column having intercommunicating chambers, the headerbeing provided with a removable panel by which access is gained to its chamber, means releasably securing the panel in chamber closing position, a

a windshield wiper, a shaft operatively connected to the wiper and jou'rnalled in the header, and mechanism disposed in the chambers of said header and supporting column and operatively connected to the wiper actuating shaft for operating the latter, said mechanism being rendered accessible upon the opening of the header chamber by the removal of said panel.

3. In a motor vehicle, a windshield having a chambered framing member provided with a removable panel at the inner side thereof for being removed from within the motor vehicle to gain access to the chamber of said member, a wiper operating shaft journalled on said windshield framing member, and means free of such removable panel for operating said shaft including an operating member operatively connected to said shaft and movable back and forth in the chamber of said framing member, said removable the latter is rendered accessible for repair or replacement in any position of said operating 'memberand upon'removal of said panel.

4. In a motor vehicle, a windshield and a framing body structure therefor, said structurehaving a chambered frame member and an angularly disposed chambered frame member joining therewith, a windshield wiper, wiper operating mech anism operatively connected to the wiper and disposed in the first chamberpa drive member supported byand housed in said second frame member, and transmission means disposed in the angle formed by said frame members and operatively connecting said mechanism to said drive member, said transmission means embodying separable parts enabling displacement of the mechanism from the first chamber, and an interiorly disposed closure panel for the first chamber removable from the interior of the vehicle to give access to said mechanism and to said transmission means whereby replacement and repair of said parts may be made.

5. A motor vehicle body construction having a windshield header provided with a chamber and a transversely extending frame member intermediate the front and back wall portions of the chamber to provide a support for cleaner mechanism, and an interior removable closure panel for the chamber, a wiper actuating shaft journalied on the member and extending into the chamber thereof, removable shaft operating mechanism including a rotatable driving member and motion translating and converting means connecting the driving member to the wiper actuating shaft, said means being disposed within the chamber and accessible from the interior of the vehicle upon removal of said closure panel, and means removably supporting the panel in chamber closing position.

6. A motor vehicle body construction having a windshield with a framing body structure of substantially rectangular form, said structure being provided with a chamber and a cover panel closing the chamber and removable to give access to the chamber, a windshield wiper, mechanism said mechanism including a worm gear disposed at one corner of the framing structure and operatively connected to the wiper, and a drive for said worm gear including a worm meshing with and disposed substantially tangential to the worm gear and substantially transversely of the chamber, means supporting the worm and worm gear for relative separation to permit of repair of the mechanism, and a flexible drive for driving said worm.

7. A motor vehicle body construction having a windshield and a framing body structure, such framing body structure having a transverse frame member providing a front wall and a rearwardly extending top wall of a chamber, a removable interior panel defining with said walls a chamber and by removability of which access is gained to the chamber, means releasably securing the panel in chamber closing position, a windshield wiper, a shaft operatively connected to the wiper and journalled in the structure, and mechanism disposed in the chamber and operatively connected to the shaft for transmitting motion from a source of power to operate the wiper actuating shaft, said mechanism being rendered accessible upon the opening of said chamber by the removal 2,112,198 "of said panel, such panel being free and independent of the wiper and its actuating mechanism whereby the latter will remain intact during he removal and replacement of the panel. 8. A motor vehicle body construction having a windshield with a framing body structure of substantially rectangular form, said structure being provided with a chamber and acove'r panel closing the chamber and removable to giveaccess to the chamber, a windshield wiper, such chamber being disposed rearwardly of the plane .of the windshield, mechanism within the chamber and connected to thewiper for operating the wiper back and forth on the outside of the windshield glass, said'mechanism being mounted on the for ward wall ofthe chamber andcovered by the removable cover panel, and a drive for said mechanism;

9. A motor vehicle body construction having a windshield with a framing body structure, said structure being provided with a chamber and a cover panel closing the chamber and removable to give access to the chamber, a windshield wiper,

such chamber being disposed rearwardly of the plane of the windshield, mechanism within the chamber and connected to the wiper for operating the wiper back and forth on the outside of the windshield glass, said mechanism being mounted on the forward wall of the chamber and covered by the removable cover panel, and a jacent chamber, means releasably securing the panel in chamber closing position, a window wiper, a shaft operatively connected to the wiper and journalied in said framing structure, and

-mechanism disposed in said interconnecting chambers and operatively connected to the wiper actuating shaft for operating the latter.

- ERWIN C. HORTON. 

